THANK YOU FOR A FANTASTIC OPEN DAY!!The 2017 Doubleview Vet Open Day was our biggest and best yet!

We wanted to extend our thanks to everyone who came along on the day and got involved and congratulate all our prize winners. A special thanks to those who also helped us by contributing donations to the Dogs

Refuge, RSPCA, Cat Haven and Mallubilai Wildlife Carers. We would also like to acknowledge all our fantastic partners who helped make the day such a huge success. We hope to see you all again at our next Open Day!

SOMETHING TO ABOUT

Paws for thought...

Autumn 2017

177 Scarborough Beach Road Scarborough 6019, Phone: 9341 1200, Email: admin@doubleviewvet.com.au

www.doubleviewvet.com.au

SPECIAL TOPICS:First Aid Client Seminar

Bow Wow It’s Bath Time

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

First Aid Client Seminar 1

Something to SMILE about 1

Thank you for a fantastic Open Day 1

Bow Wow it’s Bath Time 2

Ditch the Dish and Banish the Bowl 2

Patient of the Month 3

What’s up Doc? Importance of rabbit vaccination 4

Native News: Quirky Quokkas 4

Patient of the Month

Ever wondered how you would react if your pet was experiencing a medical emergency?

W ould you know how to recognise respiratory distress, pain and shock in a dog or cat? Like any emergency situation, it is important

to remain calm and focused and in many circumstances. Knowing the appropriate first aid and how to apply this to the pet in need, can save lives!

This June, Doubleview Vet Centre will be hosting a First Aid for Pets seminar. The seminar will commence at 7:30pm on Wednesday the 28th of June, and will be an hour and half in duration. This event is a great opportunity to learn about common pet emergencies and how you can make a difference in the event of an emergency. The evening will be hosted by Dr Oisin Tracey emergency veterinarian at Perth Veterinary Emergency.

To reserve your place at the seminar please contact Doubleview Vet Centre on 93411200. The cost of the seminar is $22 per person, with complimentary refreshments and a door prize to enter for attendees. Pet First Aid Books will be given away on the night. Pet First Aid Kits will also be available for purchase.

Thanks to the success of our Dental Special last year and on our Open Day, we are now offering Dental Scale and Polish packages for the discounted price of $400 all year long (that’s a SAVING of $95). This

price includes the anaesthetic, dental scale and polish procedure, IV fluids and hospitalisation. The dental special is applicable to all dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs. To find out more about dental health and your pet book in for a FREE nurse dental check or ask your vet at your pets next annual health check. (Dental scale and polish special price excludes the cost of any dental extractions and medications required.)

FIRST AIDClient Seminar

Paws for thought

Thank you for your patience while the upgrade was taking place. You will find the dogwash out the front of the clinic (opposite Scarborough Beach Rd) under the veranda. The

upgraded dogwash allows you to use either gold coins or $5 and $10 notes. The 10 minute cycle goes through a thorough bath wash, rinse and blowdry for your pooch. It also has the option to pause the cycle at any time should you need to - making it great for dogs that may require a medicated bath. You can BYO favourite pet shampoo or take advantage of the bath’s doggy shampoo, conditioner and flea-rinse.

The bath is OPEN 24/7 for your use.

BOWWOW it’s bath time !

Our new DIY dogwash is now fully installed and up in action.

DITCH THE DISH & BANISH THE BOWLHow to make meal time an environmental enrichment and training exercise

For many of our pets being fed breakfast and dinner is the most exciting time of the day. So why let the excitement end there? Dogs and cats are hunters and scavengers. In the wild

they would spend a good portion of their day looking for food. You can use meal time to engage their senses and provide mental stimulation throughout the day when perhaps they are home alone. By doing this not only will you minimise boredom which can lead to problem behaviours like digging, barking and anxiety but encourage confidence in your pet as each time they solve the problem the food is there as a reward. It can engage fussy eaters and in addition to the mental exercise of having to work for their food. It will also mean they have to expend energy, a great incentive for overweight pets to burn calories during the day when they otherwise may have spent the day asleep. Most dogs and cats do not need a huge amount of variety in their diet. Rather than giving your dog lots of treats which can be high in calories, split their daily portion of food and using it in these interactive ways it will keep them satisfied and save the daily treat as the grand prize. Using harder challenges to really encourage your pet will reward them well for all their hard work even if you’re not home.

There are a number of options on how to use food and it’s not the quantity but the creativity that counts. Create scent trails by leaving a trail of biscuits leading to a treat. Or use the juice from wet food or tuna to create a scent trail leading to a Kong. Freezing food can be great as well, especially during summer. Use a small portion of treat or food to freeze in an ice-block. Hide small portions of food around the house or garden in different places each day. Slow feeder bowls which offer a challenge to get the food or Kongs, Buster-Cubes, Aikiou feeder and other food based toys are great as well or DIY with an appropriately sized cardboard box or empty/clean milk carton. Add to the challenge as your pet gets smarter and solves the problems. Use vertical spaces for cats and try burying treat boxes for dogs.

Paws for thought Paws for thought

On examination Bluey was generally in good health. However he seemed painful; reacting to palpation of his left hip, but not obviously lame at this point. Bluey

was treated conservatively with anti-inflammatories and rest. Given his mischievous ways there was a chance he had acquired incidental soft tissue trauma during his outdoor antics. Despite rest, no further chance for repeat trauma and the addition of pain relief Bluey seemed to progressively became more painful with his left hip and also developed a limp. The next step in investigation was to perform xrays under a general anaesthetic. The xrays of Bluey’s hind limbs showed subtle changes within the growth plate of the left neck of the femur (the long bone of the upper hind leg). The opinion of an orthopaedic specialist was sought. The diagnosis of ‘slipped ephiphysis’ was confirmed. This is an uncommon condition, however usually associated with trauma or obesity in adolescent males. In Bluey’s case, his active, adventurous life style meant that trauma was the most likely cause. The condition results in pain and lameness and often requires surgical intervention with either hip replacement or femoral head osteotomy (where the head (ball) of the femur (leg bone) is removed to alleviate pain). Bluey underwent surgery and is currently recovering well.

Growth plates are located at the ends of long bones within the body. It is the area of active longitudinal bone growth during adolescence, hence responsible for lengthening of the bones. Growth plate trauma is reasonably common in small animals during immaturity as they are a particularly fragile area within the long bones. Growth plate closure (the time the bone has finished growth) is generally by 12 to 18 months of age in cats and small dogs and 18 to 24 months of age in large or giant breed dogs. Normal growth and development of the bones can be negatively influenced by factors affecting the growth plates, such as nutrition, genetics and obesity. Trauma may result growth plate fractures or premature closure of the growth plates. If undiagnosed and untreated growth plate disorders can lead to possible limb deformity, lameness and pain. Once adversely affected growth plates often require specialist surgical intervention to ensure appropriate healing.

Arrow - Capital femoral physeal fracture ‘slipped ephiphysis’

MEET BLUEYOUR PATIENT OF THE MONTH

Bluey is a two-year-old male Russian Blue cat. He has always been an active and adventurous boy so when Bluey became lethargic, the owner knew something was wrong.

it’s bath time !

Paws for thought

For any more information on any of the articles seen in this seasons’ issue of ‘Paws For Thought’ contact the clinic on 9341 1200

www.doubleviewvet.com.auadmin@doubleviewvet.com.au

Let us know your email address so we can send reminders and newsletters direct to you via email in the future!

WE ARE ALSO ON THE WEB

Most Western Australians are familiar with these little local legends. The Quokka is not only native to Western Australia but also only found in three areas, Rottnest Island, Bald

Island and a small population exists still on the mainland in pockets of the south-west and darling ranges. First described by Dutch explorers in the 1600’s as ‘large rats’ the Quokka is actually a true Australian marsupial. In the 1920s they were considered a pest on the mainland and the effects of hunting, predation and habitat loss caused numbers to dwindle.

Quokkas form territories with each group governed by dominant adult males. They often congregate at sites of freshwater and take refuge in low dense forest, salt marshes and densely vegetated swaps. They are mostly nocturnal and herbivores, feeding on leaves, stems, barks and grasses. Females can give birth twice a year to one joey, which stays in the pouch for the first 6 months. On the mainland they breed all year around, however on Rottnest Island there is a shorter breeding season of January to August. Rottnest Island offers a place of sanctuary for the Quokka, relatively protected from predators and disease, however they are still listed as vulnerable species. The island is a conservation site and home to over 10000 Quokkas.

The biological control of feral rabbits through introduction of

disease has been a long-standing practice in Australia. Feral rabbits are responsible for over-grazing, soil erosion and competition for native species. The first deadly virus released was myxamatosis in the 1950’s and to this day this is still a deadly virus for rabbits both feral and domesticated. Myxamatosis is a mosquito born viral disease which causes severe swelling around eyes, ears, mouth and genitalia. Rabbits develop malaise, fever and loss of appetite and eventually death. In 1996 calicivirus RHDV1 strain was first introduced into the feral rabbit population. This viral disease causes internal bleeding and death. Similar to the previous strain the new variant of calicivirus RHDVK5 causes bleeding and is fatal within 48hrs of an unvaccinated rabbit contracting the disease. The virus is transmitted through direct

contact with infected rabbits, insect vectors such as flies and mosquitos and environmental contamination with the virus able to live on organic and inorganic matter.

Currently vaccination against calicivirus is the only vaccine available for rabbits within Australia. The current calicivirus vaccine may not be fully protective against the new strain of calicivirus however vaccination regimes have changed to try and maximise protection for our pet and breeding rabbits. The new recommendations include two initial vaccinations 2-4 weeks apart for rabbits over the age of 8 weeks. Then six monthly booster vaccinations for life, rather than the previous recommendation for annual vaccination.

In addition to vaccination rabbit owners should also avoid direct contact between domestic rabbits and feral rabbits. Avoid feeding grasses or hays

which could be contaminated, by feral rabbits and practice good hygiene when handling multiple rabbits. Rabbits should be kept in insect proof enclosures and hutches to avoid mosquitos or kept inside. Reducing areas of still/stagnant water on your property and using mosquito repellents can also be useful.

There are new vaccination guidelines for pet rabbits after a new variant of calicivirus has been released at more than 600 sites across Australia in a continued attempt to control numbers of feral rabbits.

SP?

THE IMPORTANCE OFRABBIT VACCINATION

NATIVE NEWS – QUIRKY QUOKKAS